In brief

“It’s not how it ends for you, brother. You know who’s coming for you. You’ve always known.” With those 17 words an entire fandom was hyped into the stratosphere.

They were spoken by The Hound to The Mountain during a tense staredown in the finale of Game of Thrones‘ seventh season, and for many fans it was enough to confirm a theory years in the making – Cleganebowl in finally going to happen.

Cleganebowl, essentially, is the name that’s been given to a possible fight between Sandor and Gregor Clegane, aka The Hound and The Mountain, the pair of giant brothers who strike fear into much of Westeros.

Despite being brothers they are very much not bros. Actually, they hate each other’s guts. Which means any battle between them is definitely going to get nasty, and probably be to the death.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of its possible realisation in season 8.

The Hound and The Mountain clashed briefly way back in season 1 (Photo: HBO)

Why do The Hound and The Mountain hate each other?

It all started when they were kids. Anyone who’s read the books or watched the show knows The Mountain isn’t exactly the kindest, most well-adjusted human/zombie, and his reaction, when he caught his brother playing with one of his wooden toys one day, was to press his face into a burning hot fire – hence the scars on The Hound’s face and his permanent fear of flames.

The Hound has never forgiven him, and The Mountain has never changed his violent ways. He spent years raping and murdering his way across Westeros, further darkening his brother’s opinion of him, and now it’s hard to think of two people in the Seven Kingdoms who despise each other more.

How might Cleganebowl happen?

Conveniently, Sandor and Gregor are lined up on opposite sides of the war between Daenerys and Cersei, with The Hound on Dany’s side via his union with the Brotherhood Without Banners, and Zombie Mountain acting as Cersei’s personal bodyguard.

Ever since season 7’s tease it seems almost guaranteed that they will face off for real. On the battlefield feels like the obvious possibility, but don’t write off the possibility of a one-on-one duel somehow being engineered.

Interestingly, if Cleganebowl happens in the books it may be in a different way. In the books Cersei is still due to stand trial for her crimes against the Faith (the ones she got out of by blowing up the Sept of Baelor on the show), and has chosen a trial by combat.

The Hound has become one of the show’s most popular characters (Photo: HBO)

Unsurprisingly, she’s picked The Mountain as her champion, and fans have speculated the Faith will choose The Hound to fight for them.

The Hound’s journey is a little different in the books to the show. After his scrap with Brienne he is left to bleed to death on the rocks, like on screen, but it’s hinted that he then goes off and finds a life of peace working at a monastery – hence the Faith connection.

Why do fans want it so much?

Because it would be a lot of fun, obviously. And it’s been on the cards ever since the pair clashed briefly during a tourney way back in season 1.

The Hound has become a real fan favourite character, so people would love to see him get revenge on his brother. However, this is Game of Thrones, so there’s definitely no guarantee he’d win.

Consider this too: The Mountain is on Arya Stark’s kill list, so she also wants his blood. What if The Mountain slays his brother before Arya steps in to avenge her old frenemy? That could be a twist not many saw coming.

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